FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Mark Jones, MNEA Director of Public Affairs and Messaging
(573) 508-8528 | mark.jones@mnea.org
JEFFERSON CITY, MO -- A Missouri trial court today cleared the way for Jefferson City politicians to keep diverting taxpayer dollars to private schools through the MOScholars voucher program. Teachers Kimberly Duvall and Rebeka McIntosh, along with the Missouri National Education Association, will appeal the ruling to the Missouri Supreme Court.
“This ruling doesn't change the facts: House Bill 12's voucher scheme is unconstitutional. Missouri NEA's 45,000 union-represented educators believe families deserve a simple guarantee: if a school takes your tax dollars, it must welcome your child," said McIntosh, Missouri NEA President and a plaintiff in the case.
The lawsuit challenges House Bill 12's unconstitutional $51 million voucher scheme that diverts taxpayer funds to private schools, schools that can reject any child for any reason without explanation, while operating outside the accountability rules that govern public schools.
The lawsuit identifies five constitutional violations in House Bill 12's voucher scheme: (1) hiding policy in the budget, (2) referencing unauthorized statutes, (3) making unconstitutional contracts, (4) exceeding the Treasurer's powers, and (5) spending unauthorized funds. The appeal will ask the Missouri Supreme Court to review each of these claims.
“Educators see it every day. When money leaves the classroom, class sizes grow, support disappears, and students lose the one-on-one attention they need," said McIntosh. "Public money should mean public rules: you welcome every student, and you follow the Missouri Constitution. We will make that case to the Supreme Court.”
###
Missouri NEA is the union representing 45,000 educators across Missouri: teachers, support professionals, higher education faculty, retirees, and aspiring educators.
Reference: Case No. 25AC-CC05358: Missouri National Education Association, Rebeka McIntosh, and Kimberly Duvall v. The State of Missouri.
Stop the Unconstitutional $51 Million Voucher Scheme
Jefferson City politicians are diverting $51 million of our taxpayer dollars away from neighborhood public schools and handing it to private schools through the MOScholars voucher program. These private schools can reject any child, for any reason, without explanation. They don't have to follow the same accountability rules our public schools do.
When money leaves public schools, class sizes grow, support staff are cut, and students lose the one-on-one attention they need. Every dollar diverted to a voucher is a dollar taken from the students in your community.
Public money should mean public rules: if a school takes taxpayer dollars, it must welcome every student. Our lawsuit challenges five constitutional violations in this voucher scheme, and we are taking the fight to the Missouri Supreme Court. Your legislators need to hear from you now.